In order to understand the main mechanisms behind aromatherapy, we have to look into the brain itself, specifically a structure called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus regulates the autonomic nervous system.

The body’s nervous system’s output is divided into two parts: the neuromuscular system and the autonomic system. The neuromuscular system controls the muscles, and allows us to move and resist gravity. The autonomic system controls, well, everything else.

The autonomic is further divided into two systems:

• The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) or the flight or fight system. The SNS stimulates the body, readying it for action.

• The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) or the resting and digesting system. The PNS calms and relaxes the body and activates the digestive system.

Both systems are always active. However, they oppose each other. If the SNS increases, the PNS decreases, and vice versa.

The hypothalamus regulates these two systems. The hypothalamus receives information from many parts of the brain, and adjusts the autonomic nervous system accordingly.

An extremely influential input to the hypothalamus is the surrounding limbic system. The limbic system is the part of the brain that creates emotions. The limbic system has evolved or is derived from the olfactory system, which is the area of the brain dedicated to smell. This means that the sense of smell is intimately linked to the emotional center of the brain.

An example of how powerful this link is relates to my reaction to bacon. If I smell bacon cooking, I am transported back to my grandmother’s house in a semi-hallucinary state. I can see, with my waking eyes, my six year old self waking up and smelling my grandmother cooking breakfast.

Some odors can produce predictable responses in the emotions, and therefore cause predictable effects in the hypothalamus and the resulting autonomic systems. This is the main mechanism of aromatherapy.

A classic example is lavender essential oil. Lavender has been shown to reliably produce an emotion of tranquility and calm. This causes the hypothalamus to react to the limbic system’s emotions. The PNS is raised and the SNS is lowered, creating relaxation through decreased heart rate, longer breaths, decrease muscle tone, and a change in brain-wave activity.

Therefore, aromatherapy is an major component of CedarOak’s services. Using aromatherapy can enhance the therapeutic effects of the massage and contribute to the luxurious personalized experience.